Mnemonic

Abdominal Wall Nerve Supply

A memory aid for the segmental nerve supply of the anterior abdominal wall.

Expansion

T7 to T11 intercostal, T12 subcostal, L1 iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal

Expansion

  • T7 to T11 - continuations of the intercostal nerves, running in the plane between internal oblique and transversus abdominis
  • T12 - the subcostal nerve
  • L1 - the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves, from the lumbar plexus

Dermatome landmarks:

  • T7 - the epigastrium, just below the xiphoid
  • T10 - the umbilicus
  • L1 - the groin and the root of the scrotum

The neurovascular plane between internal oblique and transversus is the target of the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block.

Because the nerves run segmentally and mostly transversely, a transverse incision cuts across fewer of them than a long paramedian one, and midline incisions cross none at all.